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March 11, 1958 o. M. PHILIPP 2,826,362

ITEM COUNTER SELECTING MEANS Filed July 23, 1952 2 Shets-Sheet 1 HIS ATTORNEYS March 11, 1958 o. M PHILIPP 2,826,362;

J ITEM COUNTER SELECTING MEANS Filed July 23, 1952 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 'OTTO MAX PHILIPP ms ATTORNEYS ITEM COUNTER SELECTING NIEANS Otto Max Philipp, Augsburg, Germany, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application July 23, 1952, Serial No. 360,469

Claims priority, application Great Britain November 29, 1951 9 Claims. (Cl. 235-91) This invention relates to item counters, such as those used in cash registers and similar accounting machines, and is more particularly concerned with mechanism for selecting a particular one of the item counters for actuation when a related control key, such as a clerks key or a transaction key, is depressed, and then for actuating the selected counter to add one unit therein.

The object of the present invention is to provide a selecting mechanism for the item counters that is compact, comprises but few parts, and occupies a relatively small space within the machine cabinet, and wherein, instead of all the counter-actuating pawls being actuated at each machine operation, only that pawl receives any actuating movement which has been selected, said pawl being positively restored after its actuating stroke.

With this and other, incidental, objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrates the selecting and actuating means for one counter.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the driving mechanism for the item counter, which is actuated from the main drive shaft of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the item counter assembly and shows three of the item counters.

Fig. 4 is a detail diagrammatic view, partially in section, showing the counter-actuating shaft and the counter-selecting tubes, looking from the front of the machine.

General description The invention is illustrated for use in a cash register or accounting machine of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,209,763, issued to Ernst Breitling on July 30, 1940, and in the United States patent application filed by Karl H. Tenoort on July 14, 1951, Serial No. 236,811, new Patent No. 2,666,573, issued January 19, 1954.

Machines of the type to which the present invention is shown applied are usually provided with a plurality of clerks keys and a plurality of transaction keys, usually nine.

In the present disclosure, only one clerks item counter, one transaction item counter, and one grand total item counter are disclosed in detail. If, for example, four clerks keys and nine transaction keys are provided, the machine is provided with thirteen item counters and a grand total item counter. In the present disclosure, the fourteen counters are assembled side by side in one row.

Each of the clerks and transaction item counters has three wheels, and the grand total item counter has four wheels.

nited States Patent Ohfice 2,826,362 Patented Mar. 11, 1958 Item counters are usually selected for actuation by means of selecting mechanism controlled from the setting mechanisms for the clerks key banks and the transaction key banks, respectively, and, in the present instance, use has been made of the usual type wheel setting mechanism for these two banks of keys for controlling the selecting mechanism. This type wheel setting mechanism is not described herein, as such description is not essential to an understanding of the present invention, since it will be readily appreciated that it includes individual type-setting mechanisms for each of the key banks, and these mechanisms can conveniently impart a corresponding setting to selection control gears described below.

The item-entering mechanism for each counter comprises a positively-operated means, selectively actuated by a rock shaft having means for coupling the rock shaft to the operating mechanism.

The operating mechanism for the clerks and transaction counter to be actuated during a given operation is selected by a pair of sleeves having selecting ape1' tures therein, which apertures selectively release the operating mechanism for coupling with the single rock shaft.

The complete item counter assembly is supported within a U-shaped frame 1 (Figs. 1 and 2), which also forms a front tie bar for left and right side cash register frames 62, being secured thereto by means of screws 63, so that the whole assembly can be easily removed from the machine for inspection and repair or replacement, simply by unscrewing the screws. Since the counter frame also acts as a tie bar between the machine side frames, a saving in space is effected.

Each individual item counter assembly is constructed as a unit, being supported between a pair of side plates 2 and 3, said side plates being connected by a number of sleeves which act as supports for the counter wheels, selecting, and actuating pawls described below.

The side plates 2 and 3 are mainly supported by shafts 4 and 5 and a number of rods, which are received within the sleeves and extend right across the counter assembly between side walls 6 and 7 of the counter frame 1.

With the exception of the grand total counter, which has four wheels and in the present example is actuated at each machine operation, the counter units are identical, and therefore it will be sufficient to describe only one of the counter units.

Each counter has three indicia-bearing wheels 8 (Figs. 1 and 3) freely rotatable on a sleeve 9 (Fig. l), mounted on the shaft 5 and extending between the side plates 2 and 3 (Figs. 1 and 3). To the side of each wheel 8 is secured a ratchet 10.

A yoke 11 (Fig. l) is freely mounted on thesleeve 9 by means of a pair of side arms 12 and 13 (Figs. 1 and 3), carrying a rod 14, on which is pivotally mounted a counter-actuating pawl 15, having the usual three tines 16, 17, and 18, of different lengths, each of which is adapted to be engaged with its related ratchet 10. The pawl 15 is urged by a torsion spring 151 so that, normally, the tine 18 of the lowest order engages the teeth of its ratchet 10.

Each ratchet wheel 10 has the usual tens transfer deep notch 19 (Fig. 1) between the 9 and the 0 positions, so that, when the lowest order ratchet 10 and its wheel 8 pass from 9 to O, the tine 18 (Fig. 3), dropping into its notch 19, permits the tine 17 to advance the tens ratchet 10 one step. When the latter ratchet passes from 9 to 0, it will, in turn, permit the tine 16 to advance the hundreds order ratchet 10 and wheel 8 one step.

assesses A back-check pawl (Figs. 1 and 3) for each ratchet 10 is freely mounted on a sleeve on a rod 21, extending between the side walls 6 and 7, and is urged by a torsion spring 22 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 10. One end of the spring 22 is secured around the pawl 20, and the other end bears against a rod 23, also secured between the side walls 6 and 7, so as to maintain the necessary tension.

A resetting pawl 24 (Fig. 1) is pivotally mounted on the ratchet 10 and is urged by a spring 25 into engagement with a notch 26 in the shaft 5, the latter being freely mounted between the side walls 6 and 7 and extending somewhat beyond the side wall 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. A resetting key (not shown) is adapted to rotate the shaft 5 one complete rotation in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1, whereupon square shoulders of the notches 26 engage the pawls 24 to rotate the ratchets 10 and the counter wheels 8 back to their zero positions from any positions to which they may have been adjusted.

A shaft 27 (Figs. 1, 3, and 4) is journaled in the side walls 6 and 7 of the counter frame 1 and has a transaction counter selecting gear 28 pinned to its extreme righthand end, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. Secured to the shaft 27 by two pins 29 is a sleeve 30, extending across substantially the whole Width of the nine transaction counters, only one of which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The sleeve 30 has a series of circular apertures 31 (Figs. 1, 3, and 4) arranged helically therein, each aperture 31 corresponding to a particular circumferential transaction counter selecting position of the sleeve 30. The gear 28 may be suitably driven by the usual type wheel selecting mechanism (not shown, but see gear 43 of the abovementioned Breitling patent) set under control of transaction manipulative devices (not shown). Thus the sleeve 30 will be rotated to an extent corresponding to the particular transaction manipulative device which has been operated.

Supported by bushings 32 and 33 (Fig. 4), so as to be freely rotatable about the shaft 27, is another sleeve, 34 (Figs. 3 and 4), extending across substantially the whole width of the four clerks counters, only one of which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The sleeve 34 also has a series of helically-disposed apertures 31 therein, each of which corresponds to a particular circumferential clerks counter selecting position of the sleeve 34.

'Fast to the right-hand end of the sleeve 34, as seen in Fig. 4, is a gear wheel 35. The gear 35 may be suitably driven by the usual type wheel setting mechanism (not shown), set under control of clerks manipulative devices. Thus the sleeve 34 will be rotated an extent corresponding to the particular clerks manipulative device which has been operated.

As will be seen from Fig. 1, the sleeves 30 and 34 pass freely through apertures in the side plates 3.

While only the counter selecting and actuating mechanism associated with the transaction selecting sleeve 31? is described below, the mechanism associated with the clerks selecting sleeve 34 is similar, and, since the two sleeves can be rotated independently of one another, it will be understood that their selecting actions are similar in all respects.

Rockably mounted on bushings 36 (Fig. 3) on sleeves 37 (Figs. 1 and 3), mounted on the shaft 4 and secured between the side plates 2 and 3, is a series of counter selecting feelers 38 (Figs. 1, 3, and 4), one for each item counter. A torsion spring 39, one end of which is bent over the selecting feeler 38 and the other end of which bears against the rod 23 (Figs. 1 and 3) to maintain the necessary tension, urges the selecting feeler 38 clockwise, as seen in Fig. 1. Such clockwise movement is normally prevented, however, by the contact of a projection on the selecting feeler 38 with a stud 41) (Figs. 1 and 3)- mounted on a corresponding counter-actuating means consisting of a pawl 41, rockably mounted on a bushing 42 (Figs. 1 and 2) on the sleeve 37. The feeler 38 and pawl 41 are held in cooperative relationship by a spring 43, anchored to the stud and to a stud 44 on the selecting feeler 38.

The actuating means 41 is prevented from clockwise movement, under the urgency of the spring 39, by the contact of its nose with the full surface of an operating means, consisting of a shaft 45 (Figs. 1, 3, and 4), the

reduced ends of which are journaled in the side walls 6 and 7 (Figs. 3 and 4) of the counter frame 1. By this means, the nose of the selecting feeler 38 is normally held just clear of the surface of the sleeve 30, as shown in Fig. 1.

The actuating pawl 41 has a finger 46 (Fig. 1), the upper surface of which cooperates with a stud 47 on the arm 12 of the yoke 11, and the lower surface of which cooperates with a protruding portion of the rod 14.

The operating means 45 is provided with a series of axially-alined apertures 48, one of which is located opposite each of the actuating means 41, and which are best shown in Fig. 4.

Pinned to one end of the shaft 45 is a gear 49 (Figs. 2, 3, and 4), which meshes with a gear 50 (Fig. 2), loose on a stud 51 supported by the side wall 6 of the counter frame 1 and held in position by means of a spring washer 52, which is located in an annular groove in the stud 51.

Teeth 53 on one end of a slide 54 mesh with the teeth of the gear 50. The slide 54 is mounted for reciprocating movement in a groove in the hub of a cam 55 and in a groove in a guide piece 56 secured to the counter side frame 6.

The cam 55 is secured to a gear wheel 57 pinned to a main cam shaft 58 by a pin 59, and its periphery is adapted to cooperate with a pair of rollers 60 and 61 mounted on the slide 54.

The gear wheel 57 is driven from a machine main drive shaft (not shown), through suitable gearing, so that the cam 55 receives one complete clockwise rotation at each machine operation and thereby moves the slide 54 first to the left and then to the right, as seen in Fig. 2, to rotate the counter-actuating shaft 45 counter-clockwise and then clockwise, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The slection and actuation of the item transaction counter (Figs. 1 and 3) will now be described.

Assuming that the corresponding transaction manipulative device has been operated, the gear 28 will be correspondingly rotated in the first part of the ensuing machine operation, and will rotate the sleeve 30 to a position in which the appropriate aperture 31 is presented to the nose of the selecting pawl 38, as shown in Fig. 3.

Soon after the commencement of the counter-clockwise rotation of the counter-actuating shaft 45, under the influence of the slide 54, as described above, apertures 48 will be presented simultaneously to the noses of the nine transaction actuating pawls 41.

Since an aperture 31 has been presented to the selecting feeler 38 for the selected counter, this feeler, together with the corresponding actuating pawl 41, will now be rocked rapidly clockwise, as seen in Fig. 1, by the torsion spring 39, causing the nose of the pawl 41 to enter the related aperture 43 in the operating shaft 45.

Upon continued counter-clockwise movement of the operating shaft 45, the lower face of the aperture 48 will contact the lower cam surface of the nose of the pawl 41, rocking it farther clockwise. During such further movement of the actuating pawl 41, the selecting pawl cannot partake of a further clockwise movement, so that the spring 43 will be tensioned at this time.

As the actuating pawl 41 continues its further clockwise movement under the influence of the shaft 45, its finger 46 will strike the stud 47, positively rocking the yoke 11 and its arms 12 and 13 counter-clockwise about the shaft 5, whereupon the tine 18 of the pawl will engage a tooth on the ratchet wheel 10 to advance the units order wheel 8 of the item counter by one unit in :a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1. The back- :check pawl 20 will now engage behind the next tooth of the ratchet wheel 10 to :hold the latter in its new position.

During the counter-clockwise movement of the yoke 11, the protruding portion of the rod 14 will be placed in the path of return movement of the lower surface of the finger 46 of the actuating pawl 41.

The slide 54 (Fig. 2) will .now commence to rotate the operating shaft '45 clockwise, whereupon the upper ,face of the aperture 48 (Fig. 1) engages the upper cam surface of the nose of the actuating pawl 41, rocking the latter counter-clockwise about the shaft 4. The lower surface of the finger 46 now contacts the rod 14, positively restoring the yoke 11 in a clockwise direction, whereupon the tine 18 of the actuating pawl 15 rides idly over a full surface on the ratchet wheel 10 until it engages behind the next tooth on the latter under .the

the operating shaft 45, so that said nose will now again be on the periphery of the shaft 45, as shown in Fig. 1.

During the counter-clockwise restoration of the actuating pawl 41, the stud 40 will bear against the projection of the selecting feeler 38, restoring it to the normal position, shown in Fig. 1, against the action of the torsion spring 39, so that the parts are now ready for another counter selecting and actuating operation.

All of the selecting feelers 38 for the unselected transaction item counters will be held against any clockwise movement by the contact of their noses with the full surface of the sleeve 30. Therefore, although apertures 48 will be presented to each of the related actuating pawls 41, the latter will be held by the springs 43, so .that their noses cannot enter the said apertures, and thus their related item counters will not be actuated.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that only that counter actuating pawl that has been selected by .its corresponding key will receive an actuating movement, and that its related counter actuating yoke will be positively actuated and positively restored. Thus a great saving in'wear and tear on the counter actuating mechanism will be effected, and misoperation of any counters, which might occur in the prior arrangements, will be prevented.

It will be seen, by reference to Fig. 3, that the sleeve 30 does not extend into the plane of the selecting feeler 38 for the grand total item counter. The reason for this is that, in the particular exemplary embodiment illustrated, the grand total item counter is to be advanced one unit at each machine operation. Since the nose of this particular selecting feeler 38 is unobstructed at all times, the nose of its actuating pawl 41 will enter its aperture 48 in the operating shaft at every machine operation, and thus the total item counter will be actuated each time.

By extending the sleeve 30 into the path of the selecting feeler 38 for the grand total item counter, and by providing one aperture, or a plurality of apertures, around the sleeve 39 at this point, the total item counter can be actuated each time a particular transaction item counter is operated, or whenever each of a certain selected number of transaction counters is operated.

It will also be appreciated that, by a suitable arrangement of the apertures 31 in the sleeves 30 and 34, any

6 desired combination of item counters can simultaneously be actuated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a counting machine, the combination of a plurality of counters; an actuating means for entering amounts into each counter; a single operating means for all of said actuating means having an aperture associated with each actuating means, said actuating means being normally disengaged from the respective apertures; a resiliently operable feeler connected to each actuating means; and a differentially settable control device for controlling the movement of the feelers to selectively determine which actuating means is to be engaged with its associated aperture, whereby the single operating means selectively operates the engaged actuating means.

2. In a counting mechanism, the combination of a plurality of counters; an actuating means for entering amounts into each counter; a single operating means for all of said actuating means, said single operating means being provided with a coupling aperture adjacent each actuating means, said actuating means being normally disconnected from its adjacent aperture: a feeler connected to each actuating means; a resilient means to urge the feeler and the connected actuating means in a direction to engage the connected actuating means with its adjacent aperture; and a differentially settable control device having control points engageable by the feelers to determine the extent of movement of the feelers and the connected actuating means to select which actuating means will engage its adjacent aperture so as to be operated by the operating means.

3. In a counting mechanism, the combination of a plurality of counters; an actuating means for entering amounts into each counter; a single operating means for all of said actuating means, said single operating means being provided with a coupling aperture adjacent each actuating means, and each of said actuating means having a coupling finger engageable with an adjacent coupling aperture, said coupling fingers normally disengaged from their adjacent apertures; a feeler connected to each actuating means and normally restraining the coupling fingers in the disengaged position; a resilient means to urge the feeler and the connected actuating means in a direction to engage its finger with its adjacent aperture; and a differentially settable control device having control points engageable by the feelers .to determine the extent of movement of the feelers and the connected actuating means to select which finger is moved into the adjacent aperture so as to cause the operating means to operate the selected actuating means.

4. In a counting mechanism, the combination .of a plurality of counters; an actuating means for entering amounts into each counter; a single operating means for said actuating means, said actuating means normally disconnected from the single operating means, a resiliently operable feeler connected to each actuating means; a differentially settable control device comprising a cylindrical sleeve having a series of helically-disposed apertures therein, said apertures adapted to be selectively positioned into the path of movement of said feelers to select a feeler for movement; and means to move the feelers into the selected aperture whereby the connected actuator is connected to the single operating means to cause the selected actuating means and counter to be operated, by the single operating means.

5. In a counting mechanism, the combination of a plurality of counters; an actuating means for entering amounts into each counter, each actuating means including a lever; a single operating means for said actuating means, said single operating means being provided with a coupling aperture adjacent each lever of the actuating means, said lever being normally disconnected from its adjacent aperture; a resiliently operable feeler connected to each lever; a differentially settable control device for controlling the extent of movement of the feelers, to

selectively determine which lever is to be moved into engagement with an adjacent coupling aperture to select an actuating means for operation by the single operating means; and power means to operate the single actuating means.

6. in a counting mechanism, the combination of a plurality of counters; a separate actuating means for entering amounts into each counter, each of said actuating means including a yoke, a protuberance on each yoke, and a rockable lever having a finger engageable with said protuberance to actuate said yoke; 21 single operating means for all of said actuating means, said single operating means being provided with a coupling aperture adjacent each actuating means, each of said rockable levers having a coupling finger engageable with an adjacent coupling aperture whereby the actuating means may be selectively operated by the single operating means, said coupling fingers normally disengaged from their adjacent coupling apertures; a resiliently operable feeler resiliently connected to each rockable lever whereby the coupling finger is moved into an alined coupling aperture of the operating means; and a differentially settable control device having a series of apertures therein, one of said apertures being alined with each feeler and selectively movable into the path of movement of the alined feeler for selectively releasing the coupling fingers for movement into coupling engagement with its adjacent coupling aperture.

7. In a counting mechanism, the combination of a plurality of counters; an actuating means for entering amounts into each counter; a single operating means for said actuating means, said single operating means being provided with a coupling aperture adjacent each actuating means, said actuating means being normally disconnected from its adjacent aperture; a resiliently operable feeler; a projection on one member of each actuating means; a spring to normally maintain each feeler in engagement with the projection of each actuating means, whereby each feeler is connected to each actuating means; a shaft; 2. differentially settable control device rotatably mounted on said shaft, said device comprising a cylindrical sleeve having a series of helically-disposed apertures therein, one aperture disposed in alinement with each feeler so as to be capable of controlling the extent of movement of its alined feeler, and said one member of each actuating means, to selectively determine which actuating means is to be moved into engagement with an adjacent coupling aperture to select an actuating means for operation by the single operating means, said springs permitting the selected one member to be moved after the feeler is arrested by the shaft after moving into an aperture of the cylindrical sleeve; and means to move the feeler into the difierentially-positioned one of the helicallydisposed apertures.

8. In a counting mechanism, the combination of a plurality of counters; a separate actuating means for each counter; a single operating means for all of said actuating means, said single operating means being provided with a coupling aperture adjacent each actuating means, each of said actuating means having a coupling finger engageable with an adjacent coupling aperture whereby the actuating means may be selectively operated by the single operating means, said coupling fingers normally disengaged from their adjacent coupling apertures; aresiliently operable feeler associated with each actuating "leans; a spring to connect each feeler to its associated actuating means; a diiferentially settable control device comprising a sleeve having a series of helically-disposed apertures therein, one of said apertures being alined with each feeler and selectively movable into the path of movement of the alined feeler for selectively determining which coupling finger is to be moved into coupling engagement with its adjacent aperture; and operating mechanism to operate the single operating means to actuate the actuating means which has been coupled thereto, said spring connection permitting the actuating means to be actuated after the feeler has entered an aperture in the sleeve.

9. in a counting device, the combination of a plurality of counters; a plurality of actuating mechanisms equal in number with the number of counters, one of said actuator mechanisms being provided to enter items into each counter; a rock shaft having a plurality of apertures disposed in axial alinement; an actuating pawl for operat ing each actuating mechanism, each actuating pawl having a finger normally in engagement with the periphery of the rock shaft in a position in alinement with one aperture; a selecting pawl resiliently connected to each actuating pawl, said selecting pawls each being provided with a feeling finger; a differentially settable sleeve provided with a series of helically-disposed apertures, one aperture located in alinement with each feeling finger, and each aperture difierentially movable into a position where the aperture can be sensed by its alined feeling finger; means to rock the shaft to move the axially-alined apertures 0pposite the fingers of the actuating means; means to move the finger of the actuating pawl, connected to the finger of the selecting pawl which has entered an aperture in the difierentially settable sleeve, into engagement with its alined aperture in said rock shaft whereby the actuating pawl is operated; and means to rock the rock shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,946,572 Crosman Feb. 13, 1934 2,001,779 Frank May 21, 1935 2,008,856 Falkner July 23, 1935 2,115,118 Neurester Apr. 26, 1938 2,125,826 Tobias Aug. 2, 1938 2,147,692 Crosman Feb. 21, 1939 2,237,089 Phinney Apr. 1, 1941 

